naiapard's review
2.0
《"My hair whipped against my face as the wind howled from the impending storm that was barreling down on Metaline Falls."》
This is how the book starts. A classic description of the surroundings, something plain and vague but exciting enough to make the reader go on. Which said reader did. \_(°◇°)_/
Kendra, the main character is a powerful witch with a huge problem (figured) that has something to do with Lucian Blackstone, but she can't remember exactly what or why because she has a memory loss (which is deductible from the first book).
Introduction: She, Kendra, is outside Lucian's Sex Club watching immortals and mortals blending with each other, having a great time plastered on the windows, walls or every seemingly patch of space available in the club. Kendra enters the club.
Kendra attracts Lucian's eye but he dosen't make any move toward her. But that's fine because the naughty 《"kitty"》 came to kidnap him.
The reason? There has to be an explanation why she keeps having feverishly hot dreams about him. Soooo Kendra wants answers, Kendra acts. Kendra decides to kidnap the guy.
(It may be argued that there are some faults in her logic and such extreme measures-kidnapping--wheren't really necessary. But what can you do? There has to be a way to connect point A with point B. And hula la la, point B is the cabin where those two get naked and things happen.)
I read the first book of the series ("Playing with Monsters") a year or two ago and at that time I was really into Hutchins's writing. I knew when I've started the second book that in this spam of the months between the first and this one, my tastes might suffer some changes. I told myself "Give it time" which I did.
I have to say, before anything else, I was so thrilled to stumble over it. It was like an unexpected present. Something that made by afternoon way better. For which I am grateful. Hutchins may not be for me that good as she was some years ago but she stills remains in the top. She truly has a way of hers to translate events into emotions, and create interesting situations. She writes risky scenarios with dark characters and taboo themes for whitch I respect her and I will continue to read almost anything she writes.
But Kendra really was a piece of something. As a character she is averagely build. She has some emotions, has some power, some past that she hardly can remember and an obsession with the male lead witch she can not shake it off even for a few moments so that the reader could see something else in that world beside Lucian's "thorne".
Kendra is build better than the most characters found in this genre but there is room for improvement.
Another issue that I have with the 'Kendra situation' is that she doesn't really gets the time on the page to prove that she is capable of doing something, anything that dosen't implies lying with someone. She is constantly followed by a male or males whitch would have been fine if not for those endlessly moments that for me personally seems cheesy and weak somehow. For example:
《“They can’t claim you like we can. When we claim, it does more than just mark you. It claims your soul at the same time. "》
It's bad. Really bad. If that's depth, we are swimming in a children's pool.
《“Unless of course he can’t breed, in which case, his mark and yours will be removed, Spyder,” I sighed heavily as I shook my head. "》
《“Unless of course he can’t breed, in which case, his mark and yours will be removed, Spyder,” I sighed heavily as I shook my head. “I have a bloodline to continue, and I want to be a mother someday. In fact, with everything happening around us, I’ve realized how fragile life is, and every day I have it drummed into my head from the coven how important it is to carry on my line. "》
(ok fair enough she has to do it so she could pass the legacy. Fine. But why is she using it as an excuse for every move she does? Is like she could not keep guilt in her, oh whait, maybe that's because her honeybunny keeps erasing her memories. )
《“And, kitty, if he can’t give you a powerful child, I sure as shit can.”
“You would do that for him? Because I’m not sure we’d work out, Spyder,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood." 》 Tried you did.
Taken apart this moments may not seems as annoying or irritating or repetitive but they become a constant in the novel. Which, again, is not really a problem of technique but merely of taste, I believe.
In the end, I recommend salty chips and green olives that can go well with this reading. Dunno know bout you but the novel kind of gives me that taste: of olives and salt.
Happy reading. Happy living. :)
This is how the book starts. A classic description of the surroundings, something plain and vague but exciting enough to make the reader go on. Which said reader did. \_(°◇°)_/
Kendra, the main character is a powerful witch with a huge problem (figured) that has something to do with Lucian Blackstone, but she can't remember exactly what or why because she has a memory loss (which is deductible from the first book).
Introduction: She, Kendra, is outside Lucian's Sex Club watching immortals and mortals blending with each other, having a great time plastered on the windows, walls or every seemingly patch of space available in the club. Kendra enters the club.
Kendra attracts Lucian's eye but he dosen't make any move toward her. But that's fine because the naughty 《"kitty"》 came to kidnap him.
The reason? There has to be an explanation why she keeps having feverishly hot dreams about him. Soooo Kendra wants answers, Kendra acts. Kendra decides to kidnap the guy.
(It may be argued that there are some faults in her logic and such extreme measures-kidnapping--wheren't really necessary. But what can you do? There has to be a way to connect point A with point B. And hula la la, point B is the cabin where those two get naked and things happen.)
I read the first book of the series ("Playing with Monsters") a year or two ago and at that time I was really into Hutchins's writing. I knew when I've started the second book that in this spam of the months between the first and this one, my tastes might suffer some changes. I told myself "Give it time" which I did.
I have to say, before anything else, I was so thrilled to stumble over it. It was like an unexpected present. Something that made by afternoon way better. For which I am grateful. Hutchins may not be for me that good as she was some years ago but she stills remains in the top. She truly has a way of hers to translate events into emotions, and create interesting situations. She writes risky scenarios with dark characters and taboo themes for whitch I respect her and I will continue to read almost anything she writes.
But Kendra really was a piece of something. As a character she is averagely build. She has some emotions, has some power, some past that she hardly can remember and an obsession with the male lead witch she can not shake it off even for a few moments so that the reader could see something else in that world beside Lucian's "thorne".
Kendra is build better than the most characters found in this genre but there is room for improvement.
Another issue that I have with the 'Kendra situation' is that she doesn't really gets the time on the page to prove that she is capable of doing something, anything that dosen't implies lying with someone. She is constantly followed by a male or males whitch would have been fine if not for those endlessly moments that for me personally seems cheesy and weak somehow. For example:
《“They can’t claim you like we can. When we claim, it does more than just mark you. It claims your soul at the same time. "》
It's bad. Really bad. If that's depth, we are swimming in a children's pool.
《“Unless of course he can’t breed, in which case, his mark and yours will be removed, Spyder,” I sighed heavily as I shook my head. "》
《“Unless of course he can’t breed, in which case, his mark and yours will be removed, Spyder,” I sighed heavily as I shook my head. “I have a bloodline to continue, and I want to be a mother someday. In fact, with everything happening around us, I’ve realized how fragile life is, and every day I have it drummed into my head from the coven how important it is to carry on my line. "》
(ok fair enough she has to do it so she could pass the legacy. Fine. But why is she using it as an excuse for every move she does? Is like she could not keep guilt in her, oh whait, maybe that's because her honeybunny keeps erasing her memories. )
《“And, kitty, if he can’t give you a powerful child, I sure as shit can.”
“You would do that for him? Because I’m not sure we’d work out, Spyder,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood." 》 Tried you did.
Taken apart this moments may not seems as annoying or irritating or repetitive but they become a constant in the novel. Which, again, is not really a problem of technique but merely of taste, I believe.
In the end, I recommend salty chips and green olives that can go well with this reading. Dunno know bout you but the novel kind of gives me that taste: of olives and salt.
Happy reading. Happy living. :)
smitch29's review
4.0
3.7
This was a very entertaining and intriguing story. I love the uniqueness of the characters (well, they are unique to my reading experience). I think the author has crafted some very complex and interesting relationships. It's not all fairy tale-esque, where things are easy for the main the characters. Too often in the books I read, the main character(s) may have bad things happen to him/her, but it all works out like magic in the end. This book actually has magic, and it's still not easy, it's much more realistic, there isn't always a solution that solves everything.
Though, I must admit, this book wasn't perfect. In some regards, I think this should be rated 3-stars, but I was truly entertained, so it got bumped up. The beginning had moments that confused me. So many people are keeping so many secrets, and I don't know if it was me, or if the author could've done more to help keep things easier to remember and understand since so many characters spoke cryptically for a good chunk of the book at the beginning. There were times that I felt lost, where I didn't know if I had missed something (which is entirely possible), but I didn't always know what a character was talking about.
For the record, I really did like the ending; it was exciting and engaging. However, I think the author wanted so much of it to play out as a surprise, where all these mysteries were finally solved, that the story just before the climax was lacking. Leading up to the finale, the main character Lena, seemed to reference some information she had learned that helped her come to some conclusion about Lucien or the situation they were all in. However, the author wouldn't let that me, as the reader, know that same info. This was the time in the story when the conclusions felt unsupported or weakly supported. I think ultimately, Lena figured out everything because she just thumbed through the archived info in her brain. That's it. However, she had a lot of info (from grimoires she absorbed to stuff her brother, Benjamin, divulged) that the author never revealed. So it felt lacking and lame when she revealed all this info. I wish I could better understand her though process that concluded all of this. If she had just been told all of this straight out, why did it seem as though she still need to solve these mysteries in the days succeeding her getting the info?
As much as I had issue with some aspect of the conclusion, I think the author is skilled at ending a book in manner that makes me want the next one right now. I hope I do not have to wait long for this next book in this series.
This was a very entertaining and intriguing story. I love the uniqueness of the characters (well, they are unique to my reading experience). I think the author has crafted some very complex and interesting relationships. It's not all fairy tale-esque, where things are easy for the main the characters. Too often in the books I read, the main character(s) may have bad things happen to him/her, but it all works out like magic in the end. This book actually has magic, and it's still not easy, it's much more realistic, there isn't always a solution that solves everything.
Though, I must admit, this book wasn't perfect. In some regards, I think this should be rated 3-stars, but I was truly entertained, so it got bumped up. The beginning had moments that confused me. So many people are keeping so many secrets, and I don't know if it was me, or if the author could've done more to help keep things easier to remember and understand since so many characters spoke cryptically for a good chunk of the book at the beginning. There were times that I felt lost, where I didn't know if I had missed something (which is entirely possible), but I didn't always know what a character was talking about.
For the record, I really did like the ending; it was exciting and engaging. However, I think the author wanted so much of it to play out as a surprise, where all these mysteries were finally solved, that the story just before the climax was lacking. Leading up to the finale, the main character Lena, seemed to reference some information she had learned that helped her come to some conclusion about Lucien or the situation they were all in. However, the author wouldn't let that me, as the reader, know that same info. This was the time in the story when the conclusions felt unsupported or weakly supported. I think ultimately, Lena figured out everything because she just thumbed through the archived info in her brain. That's it. However, she had a lot of info (from grimoires she absorbed to stuff her brother, Benjamin, divulged) that the author never revealed. So it felt lacking and lame when she revealed all this info. I wish I could better understand her though process that concluded all of this. If she had just been told all of this straight out, why did it seem as though she still need to solve these mysteries in the days succeeding her getting the info?
As much as I had issue with some aspect of the conclusion, I think the author is skilled at ending a book in manner that makes me want the next one right now. I hope I do not have to wait long for this next book in this series.
melissasfandomworld's review against another edition
3.0
After months of looking forward to receiving this read, I’ve finally gotten my copy a couple of days ago when I was able to buy the book and I finished the book last night.. or this morning, however you want to call it since I was actually supposed to sleep at the time I finished it, but well.. I just couldn’t stop reading anymore – Shouldn’t surprise me either, since it’s an Amelia Hutchins book haha.
So, NOTE TO SELF: next time; plan it out so you can finish it during the day, lol. Otherwise, you’ll be a sleep deprived zombie the next day <- not to be recommended, lol.
---
Okay, review time!
Let me start with my remarks because unfortunately I had some and this pains me to write down since I normally don’t come across any remarks at all when it comes to a Hutchins book.
I have to say that to me, it sometimes felt like the first part of the book was a bit chaotic story-wise and it threw me off a bit in the beginning. I was so excited, maybe too excited, to read this sequel. Playing with monsters was one of my fave paranormal romance books and I had quite the expectations for this one. But some things got repeated a lot instead of progressing and that bummed me out a bit story-wise – hold into account; that’s the first part of the book though. At one point, it took off like a rollercoaster and never stopped being a rollercoaster-read.
But mostly Lucian, for example, felt ‘off’ to me at times. Lucian was so different in comparison to how he was in the first book. And it’s understandable, up to a point, given what happened in PwM and the facade he had to maintain during this one because of those events happening in book 1. But still.. I couldn’t connect with him as much as I would’ve liked in the first part of the book. I definitely missed more chapters written in his pov – there are only a couple there throughout the whole book. Not enough to my likings, lol.
But despite all that, it still remained a fast-paced read right from the start with some seriously hot sex scenes present which are so characteristic when it comes to Amelia’s liking and I LOVED IT A LOT. And the second part of the book was just freaking awesome and precisely what I was hoping to find in this read; a knock-you-on-your-ass excited, thrilling and addictive read. And boy, did she deliver towards the end.
I loved how everything developed towards the end; character-wise, story-wise and also romantically. It became such an addictive read that I just couldn’t stop reading any more until I finished the book late into the night. And it left me aching. It left me craving more - seriously; I really shouldn't be surprised anymore since it's so typically Amelia haha. Amelia was able to stop my heart at times during this read in the best way possible even though the plot twists weren't as shocking to me as in her prior books.
So even though it had a bumpy start, it turned out, yet again, to be a rollercoaster ride towards the end; one I'm always assured of when I read an Amelia Hutchins book, so freaking good and intense! Overall, I think it’s a good follow up to the first book, even though I had some remarks on the first part of the book and the fact that there were not a lot of plot twists present that I didn't see coming, and it’s a really great build-up to the next one <- THAT ENDING!!!!!
In the end, I rate it with 3.5 stars! And I hate it so much that I can't rate a book with half stars over here on Goodreads because now it looks like it's just okayish with 3 stars, but to me it was still a great read though! But I just can't rate it any higher than that - like upping it to 4 stars - because of the first part of the book and the fact that it overall didn't really have plot twists present I didn't see coming unfortunately.
So, NOTE TO SELF: next time; plan it out so you can finish it during the day, lol. Otherwise, you’ll be a sleep deprived zombie the next day <- not to be recommended, lol.
---
Okay, review time!
Let me start with my remarks because unfortunately I had some and this pains me to write down since I normally don’t come across any remarks at all when it comes to a Hutchins book.
I have to say that to me, it sometimes felt like the first part of the book was a bit chaotic story-wise and it threw me off a bit in the beginning. I was so excited, maybe too excited, to read this sequel. Playing with monsters was one of my fave paranormal romance books and I had quite the expectations for this one. But some things got repeated a lot instead of progressing and that bummed me out a bit story-wise – hold into account; that’s the first part of the book though. At one point, it took off like a rollercoaster and never stopped being a rollercoaster-read.
But mostly Lucian, for example, felt ‘off’ to me at times. Lucian was so different in comparison to how he was in the first book. And it’s understandable, up to a point, given what happened in PwM and the facade he had to maintain during this one because of those events happening in book 1. But still.. I couldn’t connect with him as much as I would’ve liked in the first part of the book. I definitely missed more chapters written in his pov – there are only a couple there throughout the whole book. Not enough to my likings, lol.
But despite all that, it still remained a fast-paced read right from the start with some seriously hot sex scenes present which are so characteristic when it comes to Amelia’s liking and I LOVED IT A LOT. And the second part of the book was just freaking awesome and precisely what I was hoping to find in this read; a knock-you-on-your-ass excited, thrilling and addictive read. And boy, did she deliver towards the end.
I loved how everything developed towards the end; character-wise, story-wise and also romantically. It became such an addictive read that I just couldn’t stop reading any more until I finished the book late into the night. And it left me aching. It left me craving more - seriously; I really shouldn't be surprised anymore since it's so typically Amelia haha. Amelia was able to stop my heart at times during this read in the best way possible even though the plot twists weren't as shocking to me as in her prior books.
So even though it had a bumpy start, it turned out, yet again, to be a rollercoaster ride towards the end; one I'm always assured of when I read an Amelia Hutchins book, so freaking good and intense! Overall, I think it’s a good follow up to the first book, even though I had some remarks on the first part of the book and the fact that there were not a lot of plot twists present that I didn't see coming, and it’s a really great build-up to the next one <- THAT ENDING!!!!!
In the end, I rate it with 3.5 stars! And I hate it so much that I can't rate a book with half stars over here on Goodreads because now it looks like it's just okayish with 3 stars, but to me it was still a great read though! But I just can't rate it any higher than that - like upping it to 4 stars - because of the first part of the book and the fact that it overall didn't really have plot twists present I didn't see coming unfortunately.
rachellynna's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
hjsauthor's review
5.0
exCUSE ME?????? Forget the order I am supposed to be reading these in… I’m going right to the next Monsters book. Okay jk cooler heads prevailed I’ll keep going in the correct order.
But like…. Ummmmmm what???
But like…. Ummmmmm what???
tlandrews's review
4.0
While reading this, I kept thinking this book was going to end with plot holes, but I was happy when it didn't. It was wrapped up nicely at the end. Well, there is an opening for things to continue and I seriously hope they do! Because how could the author not? Lena is a freaking badass and her and Lucian both deserve an HEA, especially Lucian.
redpandavivi's review
3.0
So so
Spoilers!!!
What I didn't like:
1. Lena and everyone have their memory erased so that she does not go after her sister, but in the end she goes after her, saving her without doing anything special.
2. The reunion of Lena and her sister is not shown to us, as if a piece of the book was ripped out.
3. This is a huge abbey of witches, but their supplies are bullshit, the herbs they need are kept in the store, because who might need them in a safe fortification, right? Right?!
4. Lucian said in the first book that they have two months to find the right witch. Is he not looking at all?
5. Earlier in the book it was said that if the devil makes person pregnant, then he can control the mother and child. Nobody guessed that Kendra, might be a Trojan horse?
6. Her sister demands to take her somewhere, leaving a safe shelter, which is what our heroine does. Sure, why not? What can go wrong, right? Right?!
7. I understand that the world is made up of stupid people who make stupid decisions. And if all the characters always acted sensibly, there would be no plot (probably). But can't everyone be completely dumb?
8. Lena is jealous and kisses Spyder as act of revenge, because why not.
9. Lena constantly bumps into everyone, drinks alcohol when she should stay alert and whines like a child non stop.
10. Kendra attacks Lena and she almost dies, but Lena does not tell anyone about this. That's right, continue to be a martyr, it's so interesting to read how everyone is saving you, while you tell everyone that you are strong and independent.
11. I already lost count of what time Lena almost died. At least when in the previous book she almost died because of the fact that they forgot to feed her, (as a everyone's pet) it was funny.
12. Wow, the moment of first declaration of love was so romantic. (Spoiler) No.
13. Wow, this is such a clever decision to come alone to a meeting with the blackmailers.
14. Lena talked so much about the fact that Lucian took the choice away from her. But when the moment of truth comes, instead of asking for help and acting together, she again does something stupid and does exactly what he feared she would do.
What I liked:
1. The moment with the dark witches and the disclosure of Lena's secret.
2. Tear dropping ending.
Spoilers!!!
What I didn't like:
1. Lena and everyone have their memory erased so that she does not go after her sister, but in the end she goes after her, saving her without doing anything special.
2. The reunion of Lena and her sister is not shown to us, as if a piece of the book was ripped out.
3. This is a huge abbey of witches, but their supplies are bullshit, the herbs they need are kept in the store, because who might need them in a safe fortification, right? Right?!
4. Lucian said in the first book that they have two months to find the right witch. Is he not looking at all?
5. Earlier in the book it was said that if the devil makes person pregnant, then he can control the mother and child. Nobody guessed that Kendra, might be a Trojan horse?
6. Her sister demands to take her somewhere, leaving a safe shelter, which is what our heroine does. Sure, why not? What can go wrong, right? Right?!
7. I understand that the world is made up of stupid people who make stupid decisions. And if all the characters always acted sensibly, there would be no plot (probably). But can't everyone be completely dumb?
8. Lena is jealous and kisses Spyder as act of revenge, because why not.
9. Lena constantly bumps into everyone, drinks alcohol when she should stay alert and whines like a child non stop.
10. Kendra attacks Lena and she almost dies, but Lena does not tell anyone about this. That's right, continue to be a martyr, it's so interesting to read how everyone is saving you, while you tell everyone that you are strong and independent.
11. I already lost count of what time Lena almost died. At least when in the previous book she almost died because of the fact that they forgot to feed her, (as a everyone's pet) it was funny.
12. Wow, the moment of first declaration of love was so romantic. (Spoiler) No.
13. Wow, this is such a clever decision to come alone to a meeting with the blackmailers.
14. Lena talked so much about the fact that Lucian took the choice away from her. But when the moment of truth comes, instead of asking for help and acting together, she again does something stupid and does exactly what he feared she would do.
What I liked:
1. The moment with the dark witches and the disclosure of Lena's secret.
2. Tear dropping ending.
cjvargas101's review
5.0
Wow! Just wow! In the time I have started and ended this book I have gone through a rainbow of emotions. When I started this book series I expected to find some mediocre paranormal romance, but let me tell you this series,book 2 in particularly, has made me gasp in shock,I’m serious, and ball my eyes out!!!!